THE STORY:

On Sunday May 6th I will participate in Philadelphia’s Broad Street Run 2012, along with 30,000 other runners. This year I will be running my 10 miles for The Clarke School, Pennsylvania.

Clarke’s phenomenal education programs for children who are deaf and hard of hearing have given my young friend Teddy Linz the opportunity to ask “But why…?” to every statement you make throughout the course of a conversation with this soon-to-be 4 year old. Any amount, small or large, will make a difference to support this wonderful school I very much believe in.

Growing up as the oldest of five I always wished I had a big sister. Someone to look up to and follow in their footsteps. Thanks to a place we lovingly call “Pocono,” I have Caroline. My mother’s best friend Dedie luckily had her daughter 3 years before I was born and she quickly fell into the role as “my big sister." From childhood through our teenage years, I looked to Caroline every step of the way. When I decided that Colby College was the school for me, I was following right in her footsteps. And as we have grown older, I am now so lucky I may call her my friend.

It is through this special relationship that I have become very involved with Caroline and Brian Linz, and their growing family. Charlie, Teddy and William light up my life every moment I spend with them and I value every conversation I have with the young Linz boys.

But it is my conversations with Teddy and the stories he tells me that I treasure most.

Teddy was born deaf, and thanks to the technology of his bilateral cochlear implants, his amazing family and network of friends, and The Clarke School, Pennsylvania, Teddy will mainstream into a typical classroom with his hearing peers before Kindergarten.

When I walk through the door into the Linz’s house I am greeted with a smile ear to ear, the best blonde surfer locks on the block and an enthusiastic “SUSANNAH,” Teddy is waiting with arms wide open for our customary arrival hug.

Teddy will turn 4 (yikes!) this June, and his growth and development in auditory and spoken language skills is staggering. Teddy’s language continues to grow and grow, and is apparent in even the few days I may go without seeing him. It is the moments like the one illustrated above that seem so simple, but are so significant for a child like Teddy. It is truly remarkable and greatly credited to The Clarke School, Pennsylvania.

Each gift to Clarke ensures their life-changing work with children who are deaf and hard of hearing remains accessible to all families regardless of their income level. Teddy is a confident, spirited toddler with a great love for life. He has overcome some great hurdles and continues to thrive in his accomplishments every day, and he is not even 4 years old yet.

And last, but most certainly not least, The Clarke Schools have a matching grant that is beyond exciting for my appeal. Clarke has an anonymous donor who will give $2 for every $1 received from a first-time donor before June 30. Because most of you reading this are just learning about Clarke, this means you!

Every dollar you give means $3 to Clarke.

I sincerely thank you in advance for considering to support me and this wonderful cause.

With love,

Susannah

ABOUT CLARKE

Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech provides children who are deaf and hard of hearing with the listening, learning, and spoken language skills they need to succeed.

In 2001, Clarke's Pennsylvania area campus began serving children from birth to age 6 through early intervention, preschool, mainstreaming and speech and language services. Clarke offers a unique learning environment designed to maximize each child's development, while building self-confidence and preparing them for success and beyond Clarke. Clarke partners with parents to provide skills, kowledge and support they need to help their children reach their full potential. Children and families come to Clarke's PA campus from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.

Clarke Pennsylvania is a private, academic special education school devoted to teaching deaf and hard-of-hearing children to listen and talk. More than 50 children with all types of hearing loss are benefiting from their program that focuses on the development of listening, thinking and conversational skills.

Clarke's philosophy is that children with hearing loss who develop listening and spoken language skills at an early age have infinte possibilities. Their mission is to provide a nurturing environment that stimulates cognitive, social and emotional development and to equip children with the listening and langage skills and self-confidence they need to succed in schools with their hearing peers.

Clarke PA uses an academic, language-enriched curriculum, approved by the PA State Department of Education that focuses on the domains of learning. Daily lessons enhance children's audition, speech and language skills while fostering their social, emotional, cognitive, physical, and creative development.

Clarke PA serves children and families living in Greater Philadelphia, Lehigh Valley, Southern NJ, and Delaware. They work closely with Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, DuPont Nemours and Johns Hopkins University Hospital and are affiliated with numerous colleges and universities.

Clarke Pennsylvania is one of five East Coast campuses of the Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech, founded in Northampton, MA in 1867. Clarke pioneered teaching deaf and hard of hearing children to talk and has an international reputation for excellence in the auditory/oral education. Today, Clarke serves more than 500 families nationwide and impacts thousands of others through its schools, research, curriculum development and professional training programs.

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